Weed-burner for roadways.



E. ALLEN. WEED BURNER FOB l'O/DWAYS.l APPLICATION m50 FEB. 9. 1912.

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I APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 1912- 1,192,808, Y Patented July 25,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

EUGENE E. ALLEN, 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

To all 'whom it may concern Be it known that I, EUGENE E'. ALLEN, a citizen of thev United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Weed-Burners for Roadways,` of which the yfollowing is a speelfication. I This invention relates to weed burners, or

to that class of apparatus or mechanism utilized for destroying by combustion or incineration weeds and other obstructive growths such as commonly spring up along railwayand other roadbeds. The nuisance resulting from such growths, which are profuse in places where suilicient rainfall occurs, constitutes a seriousjobstacle to proper f traverse of roadways, especially railway roadbeds in which the wheels of the vehicles are confined to .track-ways, allowing the growths to mature without material interference. In the lesser frequented public highways such weed growths frequently accumulate -to a bothersome extent. Y

The present invention, therefore, while adapted for utilization in connection with maintaining free of weed obstruction roadways in general, is particularly adapted and useful for keeping down the encroachment of :weeds upon'the right-offway of railways, adjacent to the'rails, Exterior of the rails, at each`side.of the railway roadbed, longitudinally thereof, extends what is termed' in railway parlance a sod-line, varying in width from three to five feet. The proper maintenance of the roadbed requires that this sod-line be kept free from vegetable growths. To this'end, it is standard practice for the railroads to employ large gangs .of workmen to cut and remove weeds from the sod-lines. to eliminating weeds for considerable extent laterally of the sod-lines.

According to my invention I provide means for destroying the weeds under high temperatures, such means 'being mounted upon a suitable car or other rolling stock,

which carries the fuel, preferably oil, for 'the heat-generating means.

The invention improved means or apparatus or mechanism of the general nature stated, which will be relatively superior in .point of simplicity Specication of Letters Patent.

Often this practice extends has for its object to provide i' V ratenteasuly 25, 191e.

Applicationiled February 9, 1912'.Y Serial No. 676,602.

and inexpensiveness of. organization combined with serviceability, which will be posi- .i sTATEsrATENr `'rmrien' tive in operation, and which will be capable of convenient control and utilization, and

which will be` generally superior in -elrif ciency, serviceability and economy.

W 1th the above and other objects in view, the invention consists .in the provision, formatlon, construction, combination and relat1ve arrangement of parts, members and features, all as hereinafter described, shown in the drawings, and finally pointed out4 in the claims.v f

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of weed burning mechaumsm or apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention; Fig-2 is a side elevation of the same with a complete showing .of the rolling stock with which the features of the 'invention are combined ;'Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional VView of a burner element constituting an important feature of the apparatus embodying the invention. the same being partially in eleva- ,l

tion; Fig. 4 is asimilar view of another burner element, the element shown lin Fig."

3 being disposed as a longitudinal burner and that in Fig. 4 as a transverse burner; Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view, partly in elevation, of a, feature of the organization embodying the invention which will be referred to hereafter as an ad Justafble shield or deiector in connection with which the burner elements are mount-` ed and-operate; Fig. 6 is an'enlarged fragv mentary elevation, partly in section, of an auxiliary shield or de'flector entering into the organization; Fig. 7 zis a. fragmentary, longitudinal. sectional viewfof a feature of the burner construction shown in Figs. 1

and y5; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a part of the construction shown in Fig. 1 illustrating in detail 'the auxiliary burner element to be utilized in connection i ings, A designates a tank car, or like rolling stock, suitably organized for utilization in carrying the invention into effect, as will naturally follow from an understanding of y the invention in accordance with the following description. This car is provided with fuel supply means B, such fuel ordinarily and preferably consisting of crude mineral oil, the fuel supply means including a mixer' b, from which the fuel, suitably mixed wlth steam, issues :to the several burner elements, through a main feed pipe a. I preferably employ' the mixer inventedby me and covered by U. S. Letters Patent No. 834,701 is? sued to me October 30, 1906, but may employ any mixer, or in fact any suitable fuel supply means in entirety, adapted for properly supplying the fuel to the burner elements through the supply pipe a or the equivalent, such pipe a leading to the longitudinal burner element C, to the transverse burner element D, and to the auxiliary burner element E. The burner elements C and D are utilized in connection with lateral shields or deflectors F, one of which is disposed adjustably at each side of the car A, although only one such element is illustrated in the drawings. Likewise, only one pair of burner elementsC and D are illustrated in the drawings, it being understood that this organization is duplicated at the other side of the car with the other shield or deflector Therefore, in further description of the .invention, the construction and organizatlon which is provided at one side of the car will only be dealt with, but such description will read with respect to the identical construc-- tion which it will be understood-is provided at the other side of the car. The .longitudinal burner element C is provided with a branch burner o which extends exteriorly of the shield or deflector.' The auxiliary burner element E is .utilized irrespective of the shield or deflector. I further employ a'windshield G extending longitudinal of the car and disposed directly above the rails, or one over each rail, for the purpose of shielding the burners from strong transverse currents of air. Also I provide a-transverse wind shield H which tends to vbreak up currents of air moving longitudinally of the roadbed such as those vcaused by the movement of the car.

Referring with particularity to Figs. 1 to 7 of the drawings, more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 5, I employ a. horizontal heat insulating .shield 13 disposed under the flooring of the car A, such shield being suspended by means of the brackets 14 and the verse tie-rods 18. This shield 13 may Yconsist of an upper surface-plate 19 having disy posed on the under side thereof a series of fire-brick 20 which are held in their proper relation to the surface-plate 19 by a series of transverse rods or wire fabric Varound ,which is massed an adhesive mixture of concrete, cement or -other like substance as shown a't 21. The shield or deflector F is disposed at the side of the car A as shown in Figs. 1', 2 and 5, and is hingedly connectedwith the shield 13 as shown at 22; said shield or deflector F- consisting preferably 'of a metallic plate 23 having disposed on the under side thereof a concrete 'or cement adhesive mixture 24 similar to 21. The outer end of the shield or delector F is bent over substantially as shown at 25, and on the innerside and adjacent thereto is a bracket 26 utilized for holding the longitudinal burner element C in proper relation to the shield or deflector F; said burner element yC constituting in detail a series of burners 27 projecting therefrom substantially as shown in Fig. 3 being arranged in pairs, the members of which converge. And in order that the proper adjustment of the burners 27 maybe accomplished I employ a sleeve 28 loosely mounted on the burner element C and a clamp 29 fixed to the burner element C, beyond the shield or deilector F, said clamp having a rod 30 extending up- Wardly to a point above the flooring of the car A as shown at 31, where it may be manipulated by the operator or attendant, thus facilitating proper adjustment of the burn ers 27 and the burner element C. The burner element C may be modified to embody the branch burner element c, and the same be disposed adjacent the outer side of .the shield or deflector F permitting of a Wider burning area; the branch burner element c comprising a series of burners 32 disposed in proper relation thereto, and the manipulation thereof is obtained by means of the rod 30. The degree of inclination and the elevation of the shield or deiector F may be varied from time to time in utilizing the invention, where the car A is being passed over a roadbed of comparative rough formation; and for this purpose I employ brackets 33 having attached thereto chains 34 extending upwardly to a point.

above the flooring of the car A and over the pulleys 35 which are attached to the shaft 36; the shaft 36 being disposed longitudinally of the car A and provided at one end thereof with a manual wheel 37 and locking means 38 for the proper adjustment of said shield or deflector F, such as a dog and gear or segment thereof, and locking it in any desired position. The transverse burner element D is disposed adjacent to and directly under the edge of the horizontal shield 13 by means of the brackets 39 and said burner elementy maybe provided with a series of 4 burners 40 and utilized for elimination of any and all obstructive growths of weeds and the like between the ties of the roadbed. Both the burner elements C and D are provided with fuel supply pipes 41 which extend to the mixer b; but in order that the shield or deflector F fand' the longitudinal burner element C may from time to time be' raised or lowered it is desirable to provide a hose or other flexible means 42 in connection with said supply pipes 41. The transverse wind shield H is disposed rearwardly of and adjacent to the transverse burner ,element D, the same being suspended from certain parts of the car body A as shown in Fig. 6 by means of the b-racket 43I and in order that the same may be from time tdtime raised and lowered a hinge 44 is provided, and-also a chain 45 which may be hooked in the desired position, as at 46, 'and a portion of said shield is cut away as shown at447 thus permitting the wind shield H to be raised beyond a point where it would ordinarily contact with the wheels of the car A. Directly above the rail of the roadbed lis suspended a longitudinal wind shield Gr which same is suspended from the shield 13 as at 48. A

In order to facilitate the proper adjustment of the shield or deflector F, weights 49 are employed disposed at the ends of the\` chains 34, such weights being adapted to rise and lower above the car floor as the shaft 36 is turned by the operator.`

A shield 50 which may be composed` of any substance, but preferably of heatinsulation qualities, is disposed at the side of the car A, forming a shield for the fuel supply means B, the mixer b, the necessary parts for the operation and utilization of the invention, and also forming a protective shield for the operator and attendants who may be on the car A.

It is found desirablel to provide a rebrick 51 substantially as shoyvn in Fig. 5 disposed above and overlapping the jointl necessitated in providing the adjustable shield or deflector F where the same extends adjacent to the shield 13; such fire-brick 51 being the means for preventing the flames of the burning fuel from lapping through such joint and burning 'away any part thereof. Y

The car or other` type of rolling stock A is provided with the necessary fuel supply means B and mixing means b `and can also be provided with a water supply tank or means not shown, and is adapted to be propelled along the right-lof-way of a railroad or other roadways, in the direction. of the appended arrow in Fig. 2, in facilitating the utilization of the invention. The adjustably mounted shieldor deiector Fis disposed at the side lof the car-'A substantiallyk as hereinbefore described and is adapted to be raised and lowered from time to time as it is found necessaryl through the medium of the elevating means, and the operator or attendant may .at one and the same time manipulate both the shield orl deiector elevating means and alsothe rod 30 to change the` direction of the. flame cast forth from the burner element C. A

The auxiliary burner element E is projected laterally from the car A, and comprises .a fuel supply pipe 53 -of suitable length, having adjacent its outer end a conical burner shield ,54, said shield 54 being perforated 'as at 55 facilitating proper combustion of the fuel. 'A' vertical post or the like'56 extending from the flooring of the car A is provided adjacent its upper end with a ball and-socket joint 57 which supports the supply pipe 53. At the inner end and disposed above the car A is a counterbalancing element 58`v permitting of the ready manipulation of the entirety. A hose or other flexible tubular element 59 is'- employed to connect the fuelsupply means a with the fuel supply pipe 53.

The operation and utilization of the intion and the drawings accompanying the same.

As hereinbefore described, `the car. o1. other rolling stock 'A is propelled along the roadbed orl roadway in the direction of the appended arrow Fig. 2, and the transverse burner element D extending beneath the car is especially adapted to destroy any and all growths of weeds or the like that may from time to time spring up between the rails of a railroad, between the ties thereof or in the central portion of any roadway; the longitudinal burner element C with its branch burner element c is adjustably and detachably connected beneath and at the sides respectively of the shield or deector F, and may from time to time be manipulated by the operator or attendant as is found necessary in raising and lowering the shield or' deflector F in adapting the same to the varying conditions in bringing the inven tioninto effect. The chain 34, weights 49, pulleys 35, shaft 36, manual wheel 37 and locking means 38 constitute the shield or deflector elevating means as hereinbefore set forth. The transverse wind shield H and the longitudinal wind shield Gr are respectively adapted to prevent any atmospheric currents from-blowing the flame cast forth by the burners out of the desired paths, thus facilitating the incineration of any and all obstructive growths of weeds or the like that pivotally mounted within easy reach of theoperator so that he may at any and all'times direct the flames cast off from the burner 53 atsuch growths hereinbefore mentioned which may be within the radius of the are of travel of said auxiliary burner elementE and its flames.

The burner element C with its branch burner element c may as hereinbefore stated be from time to time turned to suit the vary.- ing conditions*l as the same are encountered in the adaptation of'the invention, by the operator or attendant. The transverse wind shield H, pivotally supported as at 44 from the car body v brought into a horizontal plane and heldin such manner by means of the chain 45l and the hook 46 `when it is desired not to shield the transverse burner element B from the currents of air created by the normal travel or progress of the moving car A, or otherwise present.

I do not desire to be understood aslimit-y ing myself to the specic provision, formation, construction, combination, association v name to th1s specification in the presence of and relative arrangement of parts, members and features shown= and described, but reserve the right to vary the same in adapting the invention to varying conditions ofuse, without departing from the spirit` of the same and the scope and meaning of the following claims. 'j

A, may if it is desiredv be` Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentz 1. Weed burningapparatus for roadways, comprising a vehicle .bo'dy,-means at one side thereof for burning `fuel,and a fixed wind shield depending `beneath the vehicle body inwardly of the side thereof and ranging longitudinallythereof. y

2. Weed burning apparatus for roadways, comprising a vehicle body, a deiiector -projecting laterally ofthe vehicle body, means for burning .fuel adjacent to the defiector and the roadway, a shieldextending over themder surface of the vehicle body, and a shield depending from the vehicle body and ranging .longitudinally thereof and between the sides thereof.

3. Weed burning apparatus for roadways, comprising a' vehicle body, a fuel burner projecting therefrom and' ranging longitudinallythereof, and means for axially adjusting the burner. v

4. Weed burning apparatus for roadways, comprising a vehicle body, a fuel burner projecting therefrom and ranging longitudinally thereof, and means for axially adjusting the burner; said burner being pro- A vided with a branch burner arranged laterally thereof.

5. In weed burning apparatus, means for burning fuel 'adjacent to the roadway comprising -Yconvergent burners whereby jets of burning fuelmay ,be directed in common to a definite area of the roadway.

6. Weed burning apparatus for-roadways, comprising a vehicle body provided with a defiector projecting therefrom over the roadway, and a burner "disposed between the deflector Aand the roadway and provided with a branch burnerprojecting clear of the deflector.v

In testimony whereof, I have signed my two subscribing witnesses.

' Y EUGENE E. ALLEN.

jlil'itnesses:

C. P. WARDEN, W. ESEEMANN. 

